Recording - September 2020 - 54

Inside the

Studio
The One Hour Mix
with Mark Hornsby

Dial in the 2-bus
5:00
processing

min

If you're going to use processing on the 2-bus (compression, tape saturation, etc.), the time to do that is now. iZotope
Ozone? Multiple plugins working together? Outboard gear?
Nothing? Make the choices.
If you're going to use 2-bus processing, start with it, and make
your mixing decisions through it. Don't throw it on at the end of
the mix to just make everything louder-that can go sideways real
quick. Remember, it doesn't take much, especially at this point in the
game. 2-bus processing while mixing should be helping to create a
vibe-maybe one dB of overall compression. Once you start adding processing to the individual tracks, it'll naturally increase simply
because you'll be driving it harder. Remember, this isn't mastering.
Throw a temporary compressor and some effects on the vocal and put it at 0. Never mute it.

Dial in the drums
10:00
and bass

min

Compression on the entire drum bus is a fast way to get a
punchy drum sound without a lot of heavy lifting. I achieve this
in Pro Tools by first creating a stereo aux track and bussing
all the drum tracks through it. Then, I choose a processor: API
2500? 1176? Again, just a dB or two at this point will work
wonders in the long run. Also, consider adding an EQ before
the compressor, cutting a couple of dB around 400Hz, which
is typically where the mud is in acoustic drums.
On the kick and toms, again, cut out 400 Hz. It could be 8-12
dB, depending on how they were recorded. The goal here is to keep
the lows and highs while making room for the bass and guitars. On
the snare drum, try cutting 200Hz and see what that sounds like.
Maybe add an 8k shelf. Add some 1176-style compressors (faster
release on the kick and snare, slower release on the bigger toms). If
you kept the room mics, add some compression. For a drum verb,
create a stereo aux track with either a room verb (for an upbeat rock
song) or a chamber or plate (for a ballad), bus the snare and toms
to it, and then buss the output of the reverb to the drum bus. Start
with the fader up halfway and see what you think (-12 dB). If the
cymbals are taking your head off, cut the highs with the EQ or add
a multiband. Simpler yet, a de-esser at 6-8k will do the trick as well.
For bass, I like adding some distortion-either an amp plugin,
or something else to give it some hair. If it was recorded well,
you probably don't need to reach for the low end, but you might
want to add some 1k to get it to cut through and articulate better.
54 RECORDING September 2020

Dial in the rest
of the band 10:00

min

On electric guitars, add a highpass EQ at or around 100Hz,
followed by the 1176 of your choice (slower attack, faster release). Guitar solos: take the highpass up to 200 or 250Hz,
then add a couple of stereo aux tracks of reverb and delay.
Add the rhythm guitars to the verb if needed.
For acoustic guitars, cut 200 Hz if they're muddy, and add
an 8k shelf boost if they need more shine. Once again, the
1176 is your friend. For contrast, place no effects on the acoustic guitar unless it's a featured instrument.
Keys, synths and pads love highpass filters, 100 to 300 Hz.
Sweep the filter and find the sweet spot. Synths also love limiters, not to make them louder, but to control the dynamics. So,
adjust the output ceiling to the same amount as the threshold.
Acoustic pianos can be tricky-it just depends. Again, 200Hz
can get rid of some mud, but be careful not to kill the low end.
Add some reverb where appropriate for the genre.

Take the vocals home,
lead and background
I like tape saturation on vocals. I
usually start with that (Crane Song
Phoenix II is a favorite), followed by subtractive EQ (if needed), compression, additive EQ (if required) and then a de-esser.
The most significant variable here is the compressor. Different
types of music will make me want to reach for different types.
An 1176 works great on a rock vocal, where a tube compressor
like a CL-1B or a 175/176 sounds great on mid-tempo stuff.
Pick what you like, then add a couple stereo aux tracks for some
reverb and delay (maybe you just need one or the other).
For backing vocals, if it's just a single harmony line in a chorus, I tend to treat it like the lead vocal but add a high pass filter
before the compressor. If it's a group of stacked vocals, I create a
stereo aux and bus them together. Again, some tape saturation,
a highpass filter, and some compression. Sometimes they share
the same verb as the lead vocal, sometimes they need to live in
a different space for creative reasons, and here I'll set up reverb
and/or delay just for them.

Automation

10:00

min

10:00

min

At this point, we should be pretty familiar with the song. Go
back through and tweak the current static mix as needed. Also,
double check the 2-bus processing. Do you need more? Less?
Now, make some mental notes. For example, if there's a
melodic guitar throughout the song, it'll probably need to come
up in volume during the intro, turnarounds, and the solo. The
rest of the time, it'll need to be tucked under the lead vocal.
Are there any synths or string pads that carry over into a verse?
They'll need to fade under the vocal entrance. Are there any
vocal sections that need to come up or down? Is there a fadeout at the end of the song? Play the mix and write/automate
all of this stuff in. Don't think about it too much, just do it. Get
it in the ballpark.



Recording - September 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recording - September 2020

No label
Fade In
Fast Forward
Once Over: IsoAcoustics ISO-PUCK 76
Once Over: Sennheiser Anniversary Edition HD 25 Headphones
Arturia: Keylab Essential 88
Solid Stage Logic: SiX Desktop Mixer
America: Demos and Sessions a Half Century Jeff Larson and Gerry Beckley
Reviewed and Revisited: Logic Pro X 10.5 (And Novation Launchpad X with Logic)
Genelec: The Ones 8351B
Plugin Outlet: Black Rooster Audio KH-Comp 1
Inside the Box with Joe Albano: Virtual Channel Strips
Novation: Launchkey 49 MK3
Plugin Outlet: NUGEN Producer Bundle
Daking Audio: Comp II Stereo VCA Compressor
Mixing Josephine Beaver’s Prime Time and tracking big bands with Al Schmitt
Plugin Outlet: UVI Drum Replacer
PreSonus: Quantum 2626
Inside the Studio with Mark Hornsby: The One Hour Mix
SPL: Mercury Mastering DA Converter
Demeter Amplification: RV-1D Real Spring Reverb
Readers’ Tracks
Reviewed and Revisited: Harrison Mixbus 32C Version 6
Fade Out: Mix Fu: Learn, Practice, Forget
Recording - September 2020 - No label
Recording - September 2020 - Cover1
Recording - September 2020 - Cover2
Recording - September 2020 - 1
Recording - September 2020 - 2
Recording - September 2020 - 3
Recording - September 2020 - Fade In
Recording - September 2020 - 5
Recording - September 2020 - 6
Recording - September 2020 - 7
Recording - September 2020 - Fast Forward
Recording - September 2020 - 9
Recording - September 2020 - Once Over: Sennheiser Anniversary Edition HD 25 Headphones
Recording - September 2020 - 11
Recording - September 2020 - Arturia: Keylab Essential 88
Recording - September 2020 - 13
Recording - September 2020 - Solid Stage Logic: SiX Desktop Mixer
Recording - September 2020 - 15
Recording - September 2020 - 16
Recording - September 2020 - 17
Recording - September 2020 - America: Demos and Sessions a Half Century Jeff Larson and Gerry Beckley
Recording - September 2020 - 19
Recording - September 2020 - 20
Recording - September 2020 - 21
Recording - September 2020 - 22
Recording - September 2020 - 23
Recording - September 2020 - Reviewed and Revisited: Logic Pro X 10.5 (And Novation Launchpad X with Logic)
Recording - September 2020 - 25
Recording - September 2020 - 26
Recording - September 2020 - 27
Recording - September 2020 - Genelec: The Ones 8351B
Recording - September 2020 - 29
Recording - September 2020 - Plugin Outlet: Black Rooster Audio KH-Comp 1
Recording - September 2020 - 31
Recording - September 2020 - Inside the Box with Joe Albano: Virtual Channel Strips
Recording - September 2020 - 33
Recording - September 2020 - 34
Recording - September 2020 - 35
Recording - September 2020 - Novation: Launchkey 49 MK3
Recording - September 2020 - 37
Recording - September 2020 - Plugin Outlet: NUGEN Producer Bundle
Recording - September 2020 - 39
Recording - September 2020 - Daking Audio: Comp II Stereo VCA Compressor
Recording - September 2020 - 41
Recording - September 2020 - Mixing Josephine Beaver’s Prime Time and tracking big bands with Al Schmitt
Recording - September 2020 - 43
Recording - September 2020 - 44
Recording - September 2020 - 45
Recording - September 2020 - 46
Recording - September 2020 - 47
Recording - September 2020 - Plugin Outlet: UVI Drum Replacer
Recording - September 2020 - 49
Recording - September 2020 - PreSonus: Quantum 2626
Recording - September 2020 - 51
Recording - September 2020 - Inside the Studio with Mark Hornsby: The One Hour Mix
Recording - September 2020 - 53
Recording - September 2020 - 54
Recording - September 2020 - 55
Recording - September 2020 - SPL: Mercury Mastering DA Converter
Recording - September 2020 - 57
Recording - September 2020 - Demeter Amplification: RV-1D Real Spring Reverb
Recording - September 2020 - 59
Recording - September 2020 - Readers’ Tracks
Recording - September 2020 - 61
Recording - September 2020 - 62
Recording - September 2020 - 63
Recording - September 2020 - 64
Recording - September 2020 - 65
Recording - September 2020 - 66
Recording - September 2020 - 67
Recording - September 2020 - Reviewed and Revisited: Harrison Mixbus 32C Version 6
Recording - September 2020 - 69
Recording - September 2020 - 70
Recording - September 2020 - 71
Recording - September 2020 - Fade Out: Mix Fu: Learn, Practice, Forget
Recording - September 2020 - Cover3
Recording - September 2020 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202405
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202404
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202403
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202402
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202401
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202312
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording-november-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202310
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202309
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202308
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202307
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202306
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202305
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202304
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202303
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202302
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202301
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202212
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202211
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202210
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202209
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202208
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202207
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202206
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202205
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202204
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202203
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202202
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202201
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202112
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202111
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202110
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202109
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202108
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202107
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202106
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202105
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202104
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202103
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202102
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202101
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202012
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202011
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202010
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202009
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202008
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202007
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202006
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_20205
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202004
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202003
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202002
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_202001
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201912
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201911
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201910
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201909
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201908
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201907
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201906
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201905
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201904
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201903
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201902
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201901
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201812
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201811
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201810
https://www.nxtbook.com/musicmaker/musicmaker/recording_201809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201808
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201807
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201806
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201805
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201804
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201803
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201802
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201801
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201707
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201706
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201705
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201704
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201703
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201702
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201701
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201611
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201609
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201608
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201606
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201605
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201604
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201603
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201602
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201601
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201511
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201509
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201508
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201507
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201505
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201504
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201503
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201502
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201501
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_201001
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_200912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_200911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/recording_200910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/musicmaker/nxtd
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com